17 THE TAKING
The world around them was rapidly mutating. One moment it exhibited a Permian assortment of plants and animals, the next a field of skyscrapers and machinery stretching as far as the eye could see.
Susan was leading the group now, with Charlie strolling along behind them. He was smoking some funky tobacco, or a similar herb, from a meerschaum pipe that he produced from a pocket.
The pendant was tugging the chain, straining to go to a place in front of, and slightly to the right of the group. Susan pointed herself in that corrected direction, and the group followed. For just an instant, the world consisted of only the cobblestones that made up their path. There was no world below the stones for that time.
A moment later, the path consisted of beach sand. They were walking
